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the surreal Codeword: Operation Bloempanch — It all started when the boss informed us that The Word’s next issue would be dealing with secret societies. We all agreed this announced something rather special. And my own particular mission was simple though slightly unnerving awkward. I was to infi ltrate a secret society and convince their members to open up. And open up they did. Explorer of the unordinary Séverine Vaissaud meets Brussels’ Order of the Bloempanch. Writer Séverine Vaissaud 01 72 — THE THIRD WORD
After days of negotiations, a meeting with two of the Order’s founding members was scheduled. We were set to meet at seventeen hundred hours at the Order’s HQ, a discreet and slightly shabby bar located, strangely enough, in front of the Manneken Pis. The password had been set a few days earlier. Bloempanch. I was to carry a magazine with me for identifi cation purposes. The Meet On the day I am supposed to meet with our Bloempanchers, I enter the bar, head towards the counter and whisper the password to a nervous-looking barman. His rapid evaluation of me out of the way, he points to a table removed from the bustle of the rest of the bar. I sit and start to look for possible emergency exits. A few seconds later the same barman comes back and asks: “Can I take your order ?” “One sparkling water” I manage to say. He smirked: “Not a local, are you ?” The atmosphere becomes slightly nerve-racking. A man suddenly appears and says: “That’s all right Jeff, she’s with me. Bring us two Faros.” The President of the Order, Bob de Backer is standing right in front of me with co-founder Jean Tondeur. Dressed in dark grey suits with royal blue ties, both men wear what I soon realize is the Order’s Emblem: a huge pewter medal painted in black with white spots. The Order of the Bloempanch was founded in 1996 under the initiative of fi ve friends who thought it important to stand up for Brussels’ cultural, folk and culinary culture. They also sought to give added impetus to archaic and disappearing cooking specialities such as Bloempanch, a typical meal from the Marolles. At its core, the Bloempanch was the daily meal of white-collar workers from Brussels’ Marolles district in the late 19 th and early 20 th century. It is a black pudding made out of buckwheat fl our, pork fat and blood. Initially considered as the “poor man’s meal” because of its popularity with the working classes, it progressively disappeared from plates, inversely proportioned to the rise in post-World War II living standards. However, since 1996 and thanks to the Order’s relentless promotion of the delicacy, one can once again quite easily fi nd Bloempanch at selected butchers’ and restaurants. But what about the recipe? I ask. Bob de Backer and Jean Tondeur look at me as if I am just about to overstay my welcome. “Sorry Miss, the recipe is a well-kept secret, the kind that is only to be transmitted from 02 father to son. But we’ll give you a few addresses to buy or eat some.” I realize that I suddenly am walking on a thin line, and opt to change subjects… The Order also deals with solemn matters so as to perpetuate the cultural and linguistic heritage of the city: up to now, the Brotherhood has been able to have around 30 street-name signs installed in the historical city centre. Wandering through the city’s centre, it is hard to miss these white and blue enamelled boards re-baptizing the offi cial streets in Brussels dialect and describing true or legendary urban stories. Every year during spring, a Chapter (or general assembly) takes place in Brussels’City Hall, allowing the Order to set up Honoris Causa members. They all share a common feature: they have contributed to exert the infl uence of Brussels or their region on a cultural, political or artistic level. Among the most famous of them are Jazz musician Toots Thielemans, singer Annie Cody, Minister Charles Picqué and International Olympic Committee Chairman Jacques Rogge. (The Next Chapter will be held on Saturday 14 th June at 15h30 and Operation Bloempanch the surreal Where to Taste It Restobières Rue des Renards / Vossenstraat 32 1000 Brussels La fl eur en Papier Doré Rue des Alexienstraat 55 1000 Brussels Where to Buy It Boucherie Embourg Place du Colonel Bremer / Kolonel Bremerplein 114 1030 Brussels will be followed by a Bloempanch tasting and a procession to the Manneken Pis. In a bid to showcase the Brotherhood activities, non-members are welcome). President Bob de Backer tells me it is also an ideal way to recruit new members, at which point I can’t help but wonder what kind of strange and obscur tests one has to endure to be part of the Order. “Easy”, President de Backer says. “All you have to do is send me a mail and apply for membership! There are various levels according to the subscription you chose (from € 15 to € 25 a year).” Our conversation nearing its end, it is time to part, but not at the same time. Bob de Backer and Jean Tondeur order Faro beers as a pretext to stay longer. We shake hands and I leave the fi rst so as not to attract one’s attention. Mission accomplished, Bloempanch infi ltrated. www.bloempanch.be 01. The Mighty Bloempanch 02. Co-Founder and Committee Member: Jean Tondeur THE THIRD WORD — 73
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Do not throw on the public domain.
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contents page 8 — THE THIRD WORD
Page 12:
the contributors It's a Word's Worl
Page 15 and 16:
The next few weeks’ agenda fi lle
Page 17 and 18:
Referential Meanings Mike Kelley is
Page 19 and 20:
Rapid Design China’s phenomenal r
Page 22 and 23: the secret papers — Whether indul
Page 24: the secret papers Saturday, it's a
Page 28: the secret papers Stone Cold Chilli
Page 32 and 33: open sesame 01 Inside Anderlecht
Page 34 and 35: the movers and shakers 01 02 Behind
Page 36 and 37: the movers and shakers Behind the B
Page 38 and 39: ack in the days The Early Bird —
Page 40 and 41: the institution The Man Down Under
Page 42 and 43: three of the best Luxury Shopping B
Page 44 and 45: ehind closed doors Do You Remember
Page 46 and 47: ehind closed doors Do You Remember
Page 48 and 49: the culture briefi ng Creative Acco
Page 50 and 51: the culture briefi ng Creative Acco
Page 54: the culture briefi ng Creative Acco
Page 57 and 58: "Petal" Coat Paule KA In or Out the
Page 59: Skirt Sonia Rykiel, Leather Blouse
Page 63 and 64: Shirt Louisa Assomo, Underwear La P
Page 65 and 66: Mo of Soul duo Mo & Grazz What is y
Page 67 and 68: Karin Nuñez de Fleurquin Jewellery
Page 69 and 70: The Word & Cachemire Coton et Soie
Page 71: Prosse, the Name is Prosse From inc
Page 75 and 76: the young Brussels designers, then
Page 77 and 78: Hidden Appearances eye-opener THE T
Page 84 and 85: the word on the street — We fi rs
Page 86 and 87: the word on the street Kelly De Mey
Page 88 and 89: the word on the street Kelly De Mey
Page 90 and 91: our playlists Songs We Listen To Ni
Page 92 and 93: advertorial The Word & Marriott Hot
Page 94 and 95: advertisers' round up page 2 - 3 Pe
Page 96 and 97: the last word The Death of the Deve
Page 98: what's next Although budgetary conc
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